-16-

"Wait so you guys got a recording of Gavin confessing to Ward and then Ward killing Gavin but now it's gone?" 

"Yeah, Pope stupid camera broke but if we can get the gun then it's got finger prints all over it." JJ explains.

"and this gun is...?"

"In the drain." Kie nods as they walk towards it.

"This is the north drain. It should've gotten washed into the gully. So, if it got flushed out from this drain, it would've been pushed out, like- " JJ starts to explain

"Somewhere in this trash"

"Correct."

"Oh my god. People who use plastic should be shot." sighs Kie.

"Okay, personally, i love plastic. use it every day. Love the stuff." JJ teases.

"Okay well hopefully you recycle it and don't let it flush into the ocean."

"I thought you'd say something like that, so...trash bags." 

"Did you just proactively protect the environment?" Kie smiles at Pope.

"Maybe."

Stella gives JJ a confused look , what's going on between Pope and Kiara?

"You want us to leave you two alone, or what's going on?" JJ asks making her laugh.

Pope throws the trash bags at him, "Just pick up the trash."

Stella watches them as they clear the entrance, but find no gun, "Well, that was fun."

"You didn't even help."

She shrugs, unbothered.

"If it's not in the trash, then it's gotta be in the storm drain."

"It's in... it's in the drain." JJ realises.

"Of course it is."

"Good thing I brought the crow."

"So are we gonna do like, rock, paper, scissors?" Stella suggests.

"No"

"Or alphabetically?" adds Kiara. "Or like the oldest goes?"

"Nah. In the sewer there's this worm that you get when you're down there. It gets in your blood then has to come out your pecker." JJ explains. "So that would be a hard pass for me."

"Yeah it's gonna be a no for me." Pope adds.

"Well since Stella didn't help with the trash..." Kie turns to her.

"Wh-what? That's not fair!" She exclaims.

"I think it's pretty fair", They all nod in agreement.

"You know what. No, I get it. I get it. Y'all are scared. It's cute." She goes to the entrance of the drain. "If i die, i'm coming back and killing you all."

Taking a deep breathe, she starts to crawl through the murky water, thankful it wasn't that high. 

"Just holler if you need anything, we will, uh, we'll holler back" JJ yells.

"Very helpful. Thanks." She mutters.

"Do you see the gun?"

"No."

Stella makes it to the bottom of the basin,  plunging her hand in the water feeling around for the gun. "Oh god, all this trash. gross." She mutters to herself before her hand grazes across something  "Omg you guys there's something dead in here!" 

A few meters away Barry and Rafe have their own plan to get the gun, Barry starts to turn the water to flush the drain out when he hears talking. He looks over at Rafe.

"Omg you guys there's something dead in here!"

"Did you find the gun? Is it Gavin?"

"Don't touch it."

"Well, is it the gun?"

Rafe scoffs." Well they're in the sewer. Flush them out"

"Bro you flush that pipe, you're gonna kill the rat."

"Yeah" He deadpans.

"The last thing you need is more dead bodies showing up around this bitch. You realise what you're doing if you do that?"

"If you wanna be a pussy, you can leave"

"Do you not realise what you are doing bro? You don't even exactly know who is down there?"

"Get the hell out of the way, it's just John B's friends."

"All right then, all right then, tough guy" Barry out of the away

"If you don't wanna be here for this, go find the truck okay?" Rafe chucks the key at him before turning the water on.

"You guys owe me for life!" Stella yells, trying to distract herself when all of a sudden the water starts flowing, quickly, "Guys!  water!!" Is all she mangaes to get out. 

"Oh shit, Stella get out of there now!"

"I don't have time guys!" She starts to climb up the ladder. "Shit, oh no!"

"Stella!"

"Stells!"

"Guys im over here!" She sticks her finger through the grate. "The water is coming up!"

"Pull. Pull" The three of the grunt .

"Hurry! Hurry!" The water quickly starts submerging her body. "Guys, Please! Get me out, Please! I can't- " She starts crying.

"We will get you out of there I promise" JJ interrupts.

"JJ!"

"Shit" JJ yells as his knife breaks, and the water goes over Stella's head. She panics, gripping the ladder, as the water goes up her nose .

"Come on guys." Kie grunts. Suddenly, the grate breaks free and the boys pull Stella out. 

"We thought we'd lost you." Pope says as she bends over, coughing up water.

"Stells, you good?" asks JJ, wrapping an arm around her. 

Taking a few more breaths, she sits up."This wasn't what we were looking for, right?" She asks,  pulling out the gun,

They all start laughing in relief, "Holy shit."

"We're gonna get this son of a bitch man!"

"Good job Stell!" They all pull her in for a hug.

"Let's get this to Shoupe."

"I probably shouldn't go looking like this, I'll catch you guys later'"

"You sure? Want me to come with you?" Kie asks.

"Nah- i'm good, you guys get to Shoupe, quick." Stella smiles before they run off to the station. She turns to start walking home, it had only been a couple of minutes when she spots Barry.

"Hey, what're you doing around here?" She waves.

"Been dragged into Rafe's shit." He says not looking up.

"Ah, was this the money making thing he was talking about?"

"Yeah, yeah." He mutters before looking up. "Jesus Stella what happened to you, you look awful?....Wait, you were the one in the sewer?"

"What? How do you know about that?"

" Rafe's little job was getting something out the sewer, a gun? I don't know, but when we heard someone i tapped out-"

"The little son of a bitch- where is he?"

"Over there" Barry nods, smirking. She storms off in that direction.

"Rafe fucking Cameron, I'm going to kill you!"

"What now?" He groans turning to her, " Oh fuck you stink. Do Pogues not know what a shower is?"

Stella shoves him, "You almost killed me dickhead."

He clenches his jaw, shaking his head. "I don't know what you are on about?"

"Really? Then why are you standing by the water hydrants that link to the sewers?" She tilts her head.

It clicks, and he almost looked concerned.  "It was you? in the sewers?"

"Yeah genius. "

"...Serves you right , you need to stay out of this." Rafe states, "You didn't...did you find anything?"

"Uh no, I was too busy trying to not drown." She lies.

"Good, Good." He paces. "That's good."

"Rafe. Why are you so worried about someone finding the gun?"

"Gun?  How do you...I don't know what you are talking about."

She rolls her eyes, " I know what happened to Gavin, and I'm not an idiot besides isn't that gun under your father's name? So even if it was found....you wouldn't have to worry, unless ... no he wouldn't..." She fakes a shock expression. "Unless Daddy goes and rats on you? He wouldn't do that, I thought he loved you?"

"Shut up" He yells, slapping her. Stella gasps at the impact, placing her hand over where one of his rings grazed her face. "Shit.... Ettie. " He looks at her cheek as she moves her hand away revealing specks of blood.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Stella spits, shoving him back until he's against the wall. "You are a fucking psycho."

"No!" He yells. "No I'm not!"

"You almost killed me but you're more worried about the stupid gun."

"Serves you right for sticking your nose in other people's business."

"Why are you even going through all of this effort? Your name is cleared. John B's isn't. You've got the gold. The Kooks win again."

"Yeah you're right, we win and once we transfer the gold from the Bahamas tomorrow, there is nothing you Pogues can do about it."

"What? You're going to the Bahamas tomorrow?" Stella steps back.

"That's what I just said, listen."

"Let me come with you."

"No way."

"Rafe you almost killed me, I think i deserve-"

"Uh no you don't."

"Im coming." She puts her foot down.

"No you're not."

"Yes I am"

"No. You're not!" He yells.

"Yes."

"No"

"Yes."

"No"

"Yes I am." She glares at him, "Because last time I checked, your life is basically in my hands. Your daddy's life too. Wouldn't want anything happening to daddy now do we ?" Stella pouts mockingly.

"You're so fucking dead Estella."

"I'm sure your dad will be fine with it." She shrugs, pretending to walk off. Hearing him exhale in frustration, she smirks. "So I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah whatever, don't be late."

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Morning Mr Cameron." Stella smiles while chucking her stuff in the back of the car.

"Hello Stella, nice of you to join us." He smiles back, "You ready?"

"Can't wait, never been to the Bahamas before."

Ward holds his arm out before they get into the car, "Right let me tell you now, you go running your mouths back to your Pogue friends, you're gonna end up like John B."

"Bit insensitive" She scoffs. "But I am aware."

Ward lets her get in the car, Rafe was already sitting in the passenger seat. He ignores her as Ward carries on talking, "So what do you know already?"

"Well that psycho boy over here did it, duh." She pats Rafe's shoulder. "That you killed Gavin cause he knows the truth and that you can't find the gun that you used. Oh and few other things but those are secrets"She grins, tapping her lip.

"Great." he mumbles. "You know you're lucky I like you Stella, don't make me change my mind."

"and that I promised to keep my mouth shut."

"Yeah, suppose so."

"That's gonna be a struggle" Rafe mumbles.

"Hmm what was that Rafe?" She asks, having heard exactly what he said. He turns to look at her and just glares. "Good morning to you too." She glares back.